Sluice gate

ABSTRACT

A closure for fluid conduits made up generally of an orifice frame defining an opening, an angle frame fixed to each side of the opening and extending from it. Each angle frame having a flange extending in the direction of the fluid stream and a pair of guide rails fixed to each flange on the side adjacent each other, the guide rails extending vertically in spaced relation to each other. The gate has an upper crank and a lower crank pivoted to each side. The cranks each have two spaced rollers, one of the rollers being above the pivot and the other below the pivot. A third roller fixed to each said crank and an operating frame having a member engaging the third roller. The first and second mentioned rollers of each crank being disposed between the rails so that the lower roller is swung into an opening in one rail when the gate is in the lowermost position.

Patented Oct. 30, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

LEONARD W. STEPHENS Patented Oct. 30, 1973 C5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 30, 1973 3,768,773

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 gmc/wim LEONARD W STEPHENS SLUICE GATE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an irnproved closure for a fluid conduit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved sluice gate.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for a closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism which will lock a closure in both the open and in the closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an opening and closing action without any drag whatsoever upon the seat of either the frame of the valve or gate or the disc of the valve or gate.

Another object of the invention is to create ease of opening of the valve regardless of the pressure applied to either seat. This method of seating and unseating is also unique in its application to either an open sluce gate valve or a double gated enclosed valve.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arramgement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of one-half of a sluce gate according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the sluice gate mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the gate is made to close the opening in the orifice frame 30. The gate 11 has an actuating frame 12 which moves in a plane parallel to the gate and is fixed to slide relative thereto. An operating member may be connected to the lug 19' which is fixed to angle iron 49 which is in turn fixed to actuating frame l2 to lift the actuating frame 12 and through it, lift the gate. The gate has the guide brackets 27 fixed to it by studs 24 and the rollers 17 are fixed to the inner end of the guide brackets. The lugs 19' and actuator bars 32 define a notch therebetween in the actuating frame 12. There are at least two of these guide brackets on each side of the gate and the rollers 17 run between the guide tracks 23 and 24 thereby guiding the gate up and down.

The cranks 13 are pivoted to the gate at 19. The roll 18 is pivoted to the bracket 27 and it rolls along the outside of the rail 24. The spacing between the rails 23 and 24 is greater than the diameter of the rolls 17 so that the gate may move inward and outward in its sealed and unsealed position.

The cranks 13 are pivoted at 19 to the gate and each crank 13 has rolls 15 and 16 pivoted on it. Rolls 14 are pivoted to the remote end of the crank and, in the unlocked position, when the operating frame is lifted, the

roller 14 is between the adjustment 39 and the actuator bar 32. The actuator bars 32 are fixed to the actuating frame and move up and down with it.

The adjustable stops 39 are likewise fixed to the actuating frame.

There are several vertically spaced recesses 29 in each of the bars 23 and the rolls 16 move into these openings when the gate is in the locked position shown with the crank 13 swung to the position 13'. In this position, the roll 14 is moved to the phantom line position and, in this position, it rides ovex the inner side of the adjustment 39 shown in the phantom line position. The roll 16 can be caused to penetrate the recesses 29 in guide rail 23 further by adjusting the adjustment 39 toward the roll 14 by means of the studs 40 and 4l.

When the gate is in the locked position with the crank 13 shown in the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3, the operator will cause an upward force to be exerted on the eye 42 by a suitable power operating member. This will cause the actuating frame to slide upward relative to the gate and the actuator bars 32 will swing the cranks 13 to the full line position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this position, the rolls 15 and 16 will align themselves in the space between guide rails 23 and 24 and the entire gate can be moved upward until the lowermost roll 16 aligns with the next upper recess 29. The gate can be locked in this position by exerting a relative force between the gate and the actuating frame.

A stop 28 is fixed to the lower end of the orifice frame so that when the gate comes to the lowermost position, the lower roll 16 will engage the top of the curved stop 28 which will guide the roll 16 into the opening 29. Movement of rolls 1S and 16 around the pivot 19 will cause the gate to be moved into the sealed position in engagement with seal 35 made of resilient material such as Neoprene.

The pivots 19 are supported in the lugs attached to the door shown in FIG. 4.

The rails 23 and 24 are welded to the angle frames 3l having flanges which are in turn attached to the oritice frame 30 by studs 50.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: i

1. A closure comprising an orifice frame,

said orifice frame including a flange extending generally from the opening defining an orifice,

spaced guide rails on said flange,

a recess in one said guide rail,

a gate,

a crank member supported on said gate,

said crank member having a first upper and a second lower member pivoted to it and received between said rails,

said crank being supported on said gate by means of a pivot disposed between said upper and said lower members,

an actuating frame slidably supported on said gate,

a notch in said actuating frame,

a third roll member on said crank,

said third roll member being received in said notch in said actuating frame,

a stop member on said orifice frame,

said lower member being adapted to be guided into said recess in said guide rail by said stop when said frame urges said gate to its lowermost position.

2. The closure recited in claim 1 wherein an actuator bar is fixed to said actuating frame,

said actuator bar is disposed below said third roll urging it to swing said crank about said pivot when said frame is moved upward whereby said lower member is swung into and out of said opening when said gate is locked in closed position.

3. The closure recited in claim 1 wherein said orifice frame has a seal member thereon,

and said gate is moved by said crank into seating engagement with said seal when said cranks are rotated about said pivot.

4. The closure recited in claim 1 wherein a pair of said rails is attached to each side of said gate and two said cranks are fixed to said gate at each side thereof,

each said crank having an upper and a lower roll, and

said upper rolls and said lower rolls being disposed between said rails providing greater down pressure with less effort.

5. The closure recited in claim 2 wherein an adjustable stop is fixed to said actuating frame in engagement with said third roll,

and said stop is adapted to move into position relative to said third roll to hold said lower roll in said opening when said gate is in closed position.

6. The closure recited in claim 5 wherein said stop is adjustable toward and away from said third roll.

7. The closure recited in claim 5 wherein said stop is disposed above said third roll limiting the upward movement of said crank when said gate is in position to open.

8. The closure recited in claim 4 wherein said actuating frame has laterally and vertically spaced brackets fixed thereto, each said bracket having a first and a second roller fixed thereto,

said first roller being adapted to roll between said guide rails and said second roller roliing along the outside of said guide rails,

said first rollers being lesser in diameter than the distance between said rails.

9. The closure recited in claim 1 wherein said actuating frame has laterally and vertically spaced brackets xed thereto, each said bracket having a rst and a second roller fixed thereto,

said first roller being adapted to roll between said guide rails and said second roller rolling along the outside of said guide rails,

said rst rollers being lesser in diameter than the distance between said rails.

* ak 2k 

1. A closure comprising an orifice frame, said orifice frame including a flange extending generally from the opening defining an orifice, spaced guide rails on said flange, a recess in one said guide rail, a gate, a crank member supported on said gate, said crank member having a first upper and a second lower member pivoted to it and received between said rails, said crank being supported on said gate by means of a pivot disposed between said upper and said lower members, an actuating frame slidably supported on said gate, a notch in said actuating frame, a third roll member on said crank, said third roll member being received in said notch in said actuating frame, a stop member on said orifice frame, said lower member being adapted to be guided into said recess in said guide rail by said stop when said frame urges said gate to its lowermost position.
 2. The closure recited in claim 1 wherein an actuator bar is fixed to said actuating frame, saiD actuator bar is disposed below said third roll urging it to swing said crank about said pivot when said frame is moved upward whereby said lower member is swung into and out of said opening when said gate is locked in closed position.
 3. The closure recited in claim 1 wherein said orifice frame has a seal member thereon, and said gate is moved by said crank into seating engagement with said seal when said cranks are rotated about said pivot.
 4. The closure recited in claim 1 wherein a pair of said rails is attached to each side of said gate and two said cranks are fixed to said gate at each side thereof, each said crank having an upper and a lower roll, and said upper rolls and said lower rolls being disposed between said rails providing greater down pressure with less effort.
 5. The closure recited in claim 2 wherein an adjustable stop is fixed to said actuating frame in engagement with said third roll, and said stop is adapted to move into position relative to said third roll to hold said lower roll in said opening when said gate is in closed position.
 6. The closure recited in claim 5 wherein said stop is adjustable toward and away from said third roll.
 7. The closure recited in claim 5 wherein said stop is disposed above said third roll limiting the upward movement of said crank when said gate is in position to open.
 8. The closure recited in claim 4 wherein said actuating frame has laterally and vertically spaced brackets fixed thereto, each said bracket having a first and a second roller fixed thereto, said first roller being adapted to roll between said guide rails and said second roller rolling along the outside of said guide rails, said first rollers being lesser in diameter than the distance between said rails.
 9. The closure recited in claim 1 wherein said actuating frame has laterally and vertically spaced brackets fixed thereto, each said bracket having a first and a second roller fixed thereto, said first roller being adapted to roll between said guide rails and said second roller rolling along the outside of said guide rails, said first rollers being lesser in diameter than the distance between said rails. 